At the age of 80, Roberta Land is one of the many older Americans who seek relief from chronic back pain.

The fact that the U.S. population is aging will likely send more patients to doctors' offices to seek help for chronic low back pain. According to the Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging, the number of individuals older than 60 currently stands at nearly 57 million, but is expected to go up to 92 million by 2030.

However, the board certified specialist that Land sees for her weekly spine treatments is not a spine surgeon. He is an acupuncturist who is certified by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners.

In an article published by the Houston Chronicle, Land explained that she turned to acupuncture to help relieve her discomfort because she had seen the benefits that the technique offers through her parents. She said that they both experienced back pain relief from acupuncture after being involved in a car crash.

Dr. Pieter De Wet, an acupuncturist, told the news provider that a growing number of Americans are seeking the ancient Chinese approach to treat back pain before they consider surgical interventions.

"There's just a general trend toward using alternative medicine as more and more people get frustrated with chronic illness. Drugs don't treat the cause - they treat symptoms," he said, quoted by the news source.

Chronic low back pain is the most common cause of disability in Americans younger than 45 years, and as much as 4 percent of the U.S. population is temporarily disabled due to the condition each year, according to Medscape.

For Land, acupuncture effectively relieves her leg and back pain, which is why she continues to receive this type of treatment at least once weekly. However, other individuals who are unable to achieve a pain-free status through physical therapy and medications may require spine surgery in order to correct the root of their problem.

In accordance with the trend of new, more effective spine treatments that have the lowest risks of complications and side effects, some people may consider a form of minimally invasive spine surgery called endoscopic spine surgery.

Unlike traditional open-back operations, endoscopic spine surgery involves only a small one-quarter inch incision, which reduces the risk of blood loss during the spine procedure and cuts down on recovery time.

If you suffer from chronic low back pain and need to consult with a spine specialist, call us today at 877-222-6008 and we'll provide you with spinal treatment options.